This is the official blog of the Nigeria-based Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), a human rights organization which promotes, protects and projects the rights of Muslims. This group condemns terrorism and all acts of violence. Its motto is 'Dialogue, Not Violence'

Thursday, November 28, 2013

The
Senate on Wednesday 27th November, 2013 declared that the eight
people killed by security agents in Apo Quarters were not members of Boko Haram
but the Upper House cleared the Nigerian security agencies of culpability in
the death of the workers.

It will be recalled that eight Keke Napep operators
were killed by security agents as they squatted in an uncompleted building at
Soji Aderemi Close, Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja, on 20th
September, 2013.

We
note with deep concern the obvious contradiction in the report. Whereas Senate
admits that the victims were not members of Boko Haram, it went ahead to absolve
the security agencies who carried out the dastardly act.

We
of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) condemn this double standard in the
strongest terms. This type of thing should not be happening in a democracy.
Life is sacred and security agencies have no right under the law to kill and
maim at will. It is sheer manifestation of impunity.

MURIC
finds the testimonies in the minority reports more credible. We commend
Senators Mohammed Sani Saleh (Kaduna Central) and Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa
(Zamfara Central) for their courageous stand and their rejection of the report.
We are of the considered opinion that Senate has allowed religious sentiment to
becloud its sense of judgement.Senate has failed the people of Nigeria.

We
therefore urge families and friends of the victims to seek redress in the
courts. MURIC pledges to render every necessary assistance in this regard until
the culprits are brought to book. Nigerian security agencies must learn to
respect constitutionalism, rule of law, equal rights, justice and fairplay.

Saturday, November 23, 2013

The
State Security Service (SSS) recently paraded Dr. Muhammad Nazeef, a lecturer of
Islamic Studies at the Kogi State University and four others (Umar Musa,
Mustapha Yusuf, Ismaila Abdulazez and Ibrahim Isah) who had been detained on
suspicion of being members of a Boko Haram cell in Kogi State. Whereas his
co-detainees testified against him, Dr. Nazeef has vehemently maintained his
innocence.

While
we realize the need for the law to take its due course, we equally see the
necessity for proper investigation of the matter in order to avoid a situation
whereby an innocent man is unjustly punished. Dr. Nazeef is a well known
Islamic scholar who has spoken against terrorism and violence in his public lectures.
The fact that he holds a doctorate degree in Islamic Studies means that he has
deep knowledge of Islam and cannot compromise Islam’s true teachings of peace
and peaceful coexistence for the distorted Boko Haram ideology of bestial violence
and terror.

Again
while we admit the fact that the security agencies must do their job, we remind
them of the sophisticated approach of the Boko Haram group. We strongly
suspect that Dr. Nazeef may have been targeted for vengeance by the group
because of his condemnation of their activities.

Nigeria is witnessing another phase in Boko Haramism. Having faced a solid wall in its guerrilla warfare
against the Nigerian state, the group is now graduating into advanced
psychological warfare. It has mastered the advanced plot of setting up one
enemy to be eliminated by another enemy.

Boko Haram is now using its members to set up Islamic scholars who
speak against them. Security agents have swallowed the bait: hook, line and
sinker. The four men who testified against Dr. Nazeef are the guinea pigs. The
question may arise: who is the next Islamic scholar that Boko Haram will set up
before Nigerian security agents read between the lines?

It
is an open secret that Boko Haram regards Islamic scholars who condemn
terrorism and violence as their enemies primus inter pareil. The group
is known to have assassinated several Islamic scholars when the group was still
very strong. They are now reverting to subterfuge in their days of weakness.
Boko Haram is out to get in the bends what it could not get in the straights.

They
may have roped in Dr. Nazeef using those who testified against him. This is a
group that believes in dying for a cause in which it believes. This is a group
that has sent its members out on missions of no return in the past. What will
it cost them to send three or more people to mislead security agents so long as
it will lead to the incarceration of a long-time foe?

The
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) therefore appeals to the SSS to look before it
leaps. Our hypothesis is that SSS may indirectly be doing to Dr. Nazeef what
Boko Haram actually wants to do to him. This may produce a negative
effect on Islamic scholars nationwide. Those who have been condemning Boko
Haram and terrorism may crawl back into their shells for fear of being targeted
by the dreaded terror group while those who have been timid and silent on the
issue will now prefer to remain silent forever. The result of this development
is the unfettered growth of terror cells.

While MURIC reaffirms its condemnation of terrorism, we remind security
agents that they cannot fight terrorism alone. They need information and cooperation from civilians.
There is no gainsaying the fact that it is the Muslims who can be most useful
in this regard particularly on the Boko Haram affair while it is Islamic
scholars who can effectively counter Boko Haram indoctrination. What message is
the SSS passing across if it continues to detain the same Islamic scholars?

It
must be noted that Nigerian Muslims have been united in condemning Boko Haram
and Islamic scholars have dug deep into the scriptures of Islam (the Glorious
Qur’an and the Hadith of the Holy Prophet SAW) to puncture Boko Haram’s misleading
ideology. This is why the violent group regards Islamic scholars as their numero
uno foes and always targets them for elimination.

SSS
and other security outfits may therefore be cutting their noses to spite their
faces by detaining and prosecuting Islamic scholars. It may be a sophisticated
Boko Haram strategy. Our security agents may be waging Boko Haram’s war against
Islamic scholars on behalf of Boko Haram.

On
the basis of the above thesis, MURIC affirms that the arrest of Dr. Muhammad Nazeef
can only be counter-productive. We call on the SSS to urgently review the case
and set him free. SSS must determine who it is working for: Boko Haram or the
Nigeria State? To continue detaining those who speak against Boko Haram is to
work indirectly for the terror group.

MURIC appeals to Islamic scholars and organizations who have been
apprehensive since the arrest of Dr. Nazeef to relax. We also urge leaders of
Islamic organizations throughout Nigeria to douse tension among their members.Suspicions of witch-hunting and profiling of Muslims
and Islamic scholars by security agents should not be allowed to germinate at
this point in time when the nation needs the prayers of Islamic scholars for
Nigeria’s spiritual growth and the peaceful conduct of the Muslim population
for economic development.

Finally,
MURIC urges the Security Committees of both Senate and the House of
Representatives to examine the circumstances surrounding the case of Dr. Nazeef
against the background of his impeccable record of positive spiritual guidance
for Muslims and his past condemnation of violence, terrorism and Boko Haramism.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

The
gubernatorial election was held in Anambra yesterday with reports of
irregularities, violence and intervention by security operatives. Election was
cancelled in 65 wards. Men of the State Security Services (SSS) also allegedly
put Mallam Nasir El-Rufai under house arrest while about 120 APC supporters who
were on their way to Anambra were detained in Owerri, Imo State.

These are very disturbing developments. Nigeria should be able to do
better after several years of democratic experience. The cancellation of election in 65 wards which the
opposition describes as its stronghold gives cause for serious concern. In the
same vein, the curtailment of the movement of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, a key
opposition figure, to a hotel room is an unacceptable breach of his fundamental
right of movement, election or no election.

The
detention of several opposition members whom the opposition claims were
election observers is symptomatic of arbitrary use of security agents. The
intention of the authors of this action can only be antithetical to democratic
principles.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) calls for the immediate lifting of
the house arrest imposed on El-Rufai and the unconditional release of the APC
election observers. A situation
where party agents and observers are coerced is bound to create suspicion and
its attendant fallouts. We assert that a free and fair election is sine
qua non in a true democracy. A level playing ground must be provided
for all the parties contesting in elections.

Monday, November 11, 2013

The
Presidential Committee on the proposed National Conference has held two
sittings in the South West to date (one in Akure, Ondo State and the other in
Lagos).

It
was not an accident that Friday was picked on both occasions while the time for
starting the sittings was 1.30 pm. We assert clearly, unambiguously and
unequivocally that neither the day picked nor the time was coincidental. The members
of the committee are not foreigners. They knew what they were doing. There is
no single Nigerian who does not know that Friday is the day of worship for
Muslims and that the time for Jum’ah prayer is 12.30 to 2.30 pm.

To have slated such a sensitive sitting for the Muslim prayer time is
not only mischievous but preposterous, disdainful and absolutely unacceptable. It
is also most undemocratic because democracy is all about participation and
equal opportunity to participate. It is also an invitation to chaos.What if the marginalized Muslims had stormed the
venue with protests? Could it have been done out of ignorance? But how can the
committee claim to be ignorant in such a very sensitive circumstance?

The result of this badly planned pre-National Conference meeting held
in Akure and Lagos was the exclusion of the Muslim population and their
representatives. This is a significant misrepresentation particularly in a
region in which the Muslims form the majority.It reveals an unnecessary attempt to rush the
National Conference. The outcome of such a conference can only scratch the
surface. Only the deep can call to the deep. The plan as presently designed
will merely sweep the issues under the carpet. A country that has long been bedeviled
with ethnic and religious conflicts need more serious planning.

Furthermore, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) regards the
need to raise and fully discuss religious matters at the conference as
fundamental and non-negotiable. There is no gainsaying the fact that
religion has been responsible for most conflicts in this country. Why then are
the organizers of the purported ‘National Conference’ laying emphasis on
ethnicity alone? Any attempt to hold a national conference in this country
without discussing religion will be an exercise in futility. The
injustice of the colonial masters against the Muslims must be discussed at the
conference.

MURIC contends that Nigeria
as it stands today is a neocolonialist project serving the purpose of the
colonial master and the imperialists alone. The colonialists adopted a
parochial method through which they virtually eliminated all vestiges of Islam
which they met on ground. This they did by using sheer force, divide et
impera and so many other subterfuges. The British bequeathed to us a legacy
which was heavily tainted with their own perception of religion in all aspects
of life: education, health, law, etc.

Today, Nigerian Muslims see our so called independence in 1960 as
cosmetic, our republican status in 1963 as window-dressing and our democracy
today as a monumental fraud. This
injustice against Muslims must be addressed at the National Conference if this
government seeks genuine peace. Christians and Muslims must enjoy equal rights
in all fields in a post-National Conference Nigeria. That is why we must invite
both groups to tell Nigerians what they want.

The
exclusion of Muslims from the pre-National Conference meetings in the South
West is part of a massive plan to permanently keep Muslims from the
geo-political zone at bay. We decry this attempt as undemocratic,
non-participatory and Bohemian. Nigeria’s search for
peace must be genuine. It is therefore hypocritical to exclude religion from
the theme of the conference.

We are alarmed by the shoddy preparations and the rush. Besides, we
wish to warn that a booby trap lies ahead if the National Conference is
combined with the 2015 general elections.

In view of the poor publicity for the past two sittings in
the South West, we demand that the committee fixes other dates for the
sub-region. These dates must be given due publicity in the print and electronic
media. A national
conference is not a child’s play and cannot be prepared for in secrecy. What is
the committee trying to hide?

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Nigeria’s
Under 17 National Team, the Golden Eaglets, defeated its Mexican counterpart in
the final leg of the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2013 on Friday, 8th
November, 2013 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The Golden Eaglets thus became the first team ever to win the FIFA U-17 World
Cup four times having won it in 1985, 1993, and 2007.
In all, Nigeria scored26 goals in seven matches and conceded 5
only.

Not only that, the team also won the FIFA Fair Play award for its
sportsmanship and approach to the game. The team’s highest goalscorer, Kelechi
Iheanacho,emerged as the
competition’s most outstanding player by winning the Adidas Golden Ball. He
also won the Adidas Silver Boot as the competition’s second highest goalscorer
with six goals, one behind the top scorer Valmir Berisha of Sweden. Goalkeeper
Dele Alampasu also won the Adidas Golden Glove as the best goalkeeper of the
tournament.

These laurels can be attributed to good preparation by the
team’s handlers, vision of its leadership, sacrifice from both the handlers and
the players and, above all, the spirit of unity among the players.

The outcome of this global tournament has revealed that religion
and ethnicity are parochial barometers in choosing who leads Nigeria as well as
in assessing their performance. What really matters is delivery, transparency, probity and accountability.
If the combinations of Kelechi Ihenacho, Awoniyi, Chidera Ezeh, Dele Alampasu Musa
Yahaya, Muhammed the captain, Abdulahi Alfa and goalkeeper can put aside
religious and ethnic sentiments, what stops Aso Rock from treating Christians
and Muslims equally in all matters?

The fact that the Golden Eaglet team consists of Christians
and Muslims, Hausa, Ibo and Yoruba who worked in unison sends a strong and
indubitable signal to Nigeria’s religious and traditional leaders, urging them
to close ranks.

The young Nigerians who donned the nation’s battle fatigue in Abu
Dhabi have demonstrated the fact that unity is what we need to move this
country forward. They have also shown us that to achieve unity, there must be
social justice, equal rights and rule of law.

It is crystal clear from the outcome of the universal sporting
exercise that Nigeria can still get it right if we do it right.We can get it right if we stop putting
square pegs in round holes. We must therefore stop the recycling of leadership
or its rotation among the capitalist bourgeoisie. This does not necessarily mean
forceful seizure of wealth from the rich as posited by the communists. Those
who obtain their wealth through legitimate means must be allowed to enjoy the
fruits of their labour while they guide the country to the path of greatness
using their immense experience in business.

The body language of these young heroes has communicated an
important message to Nigerians: that our youths possess great potentials and
should be given the opportunity to showcase their various skills in different
fields. The feat achieved by these young boys has exposed the hypocrisy of
successive Nigerian leadership. It has revealed that Nigeria’s hope lies
in its youths.

Yet in order to bring out the best in the young ones, they
must be given the best education to meet international best practices. But whereas the United Nations Economic,
Social and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recommends that 26% of the budget of
every country should be set aside for education, Nigeria has always fallen
tragically short, particularly from the 70s.

The failure to fund the universities properly based on the
recommendation of UNESCO has robbed the nation of the much needed manpower to
turn around Nigeria’s fortune. It was a great disservice to the young ones. Yet
today it is this same oppressed, undernourished, under-funded and highly deprived
young ones, the Golden Eaglets, who have lifted the banner of Nigeria to high
heavens in far away Abu Dhabi and our leaders had no qualms sending an allegedly
overbloated 250-strong Federal Government delegation after the meal was cooked
and ready!

This is one meal our leaders cannot beat their chests to claim its
preparation. The past and present leaders should therefore bury their
heads in shame at the monumental degradation in the education sector and the
Federal Government must turn repentant and attend to the needs of the sector
with immediate effect.